Those who most obstinately oppose the most widely-held opinions more often do so because of pride than lack of intelligence. They find the best places in the right set already taken, and they do not want back seats.

Love, like fire, cannot subsist without constant impulse; it ceases to live from the moment it ceases to hope or to fear.

Vices are ingredients of virtues just as poisons are ingredients of remedies. Prudence mixes and tempers them and uses them effectively against life's ills.

Generally speaking, we would make a good bargain by renouncing all the good that people say of us, upon condition they would say no ill.

It is no tragedy to do ungrateful people favors, but it is unbearable to be indebted to a scoundrel.

One kind of happiness is to know exactly at what point to be miserable.

He who refuses praise the first time that it is offered does so because he would hear it a second time.